Recap of the Canada 150 Conference!

• See event photos here

Click on the links below to listen to the conference podcasts: 

Day 1 – September 29, 2017 

• Keynote Address – The Honourable Jean-Marc Fournier 
• Theme 1: Foundational Values and Constitutional Rights 
  • Panel 1 
  • Panel 2 
• Theme 2 : Institutions and Accountability 
  • Panel 1 
  • Panel 2 

Day 2 – September 30, 2017 

• Keynote Addresses – The Honourable Louis LeBel and Professor Peter Russell / Theme 3: Democratic Processes 
  • Part 1
  • Part 2 
  • Part 3

Published article(s):

• Pro Tem: Canada at 150 

September 29-30, 2017

GLENDON CAMPUS, YORK UNIVERSITY

A100, CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE
2275 BAYVIEW AVENUE, TORONTO, ON

Admission is Free

In recognition of the 150th anniversary of Canada, this conference will examine our nation’s constitutional development in light of the changes in Canadian society and economy and challenges to the nation presented by new information technology, global mobility and need to respond to and ameliorate global warming.  The conference will identify challenges facing Canada’s public government and suggest improvements within the organic life of the Constitution that will enhance national capacity, confirm national self-determination and renew national commitment to stability, justice, respect and inclusion.

The conference will be organized around three main themes:

• Theme 1: Foundational Values & Constitutional Rights
  • These sessions will identify and assess Canada’s constitutional values from both an historical perspective and the perspective of adaptation and reformation. Which foundational values do Canadian governments need to be governed by in order to sustain confidence in the nation’s future and in its justice and stability? How can changing conditions and changing conceptions of national values be accommodated within the constitutional regime?
• Theme 2: Democratic Governance
  • These sessions will identify and assess Canada’s constitutional values from both an historical perspective and the perspective of adaptation and reformation. Which foundational values do Canadian governments need to be governed by in order to sustain confidence in the nation’s future and in its justice and stability? How can changing conditions and changing conceptions of national values be accommodated within the constitutional regime?
• Theme 3: Democratic Processes
  • These sessions will explore the conditions and processes that enable rigorous, intelligent, innovative, effective and socially responsive public policy to emerge without abdication of democratic governance to a specialist and expert community. They will also explore the role of civic society in shaping the national sense of policy needs and in raising critical perspectives on governments’ policy initiatives.

It is expected that each panel include an historical perspective and the linkages between the past, the present and the emerging state environment. The conference will engage scholars, practitioners, civil society representatives and students in assessing the challenges facing the nation and will suggest changes in processes, structures and foundational commitments that will improve our ability to continue as a successful nation and a good state.  
 

Keynote Speakers:

September 29, 2017
The Honourable Jean-Marc Fournier
Minister responsible for Canadian Relations and the Canadian Francophonie

September 30, 2017
Dr. Peter Russell
Professor Emeritus of Political Science,
University of Toronto

September 30, 2017
The Honourable Louis LeBel
Counsel at Langlois Lawyers,
Québec

Keynote & Speaker Biographies

Conference Program

Friday, September 29, 2017

Saturday, September 30, 2017